April 23, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
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Daily Bread June 20, 2017
Posted on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 by Bro_D
Acts 8:1-4 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (2) Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. (3) But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. (4) Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Stephen had just been murdered by the leaders of the synagogue and Saul was a witness to it all. This lead to a great persecution against the church, it was time to finally put an end to this “Jesus thing”. The Greek here indicates the persecution was furious and ferocious – the intent was total destruction of the movement. All “Christ followers” were to be destroyed – none left no matter the cost and by any means.
And yet, verse 4 tells us they kept on preaching the Word. There was no stopping these folks. No amount of persecution could stop them. We see these very same things happening today –in places like Indonesia, Somalia, Iraq …. In those countries Christians are being martyred on a daily, almost hourly basis. In Turkey, children are taken from their parents if a parent converts to Christianity. In Kenya, 7 lost their lives because they were caught praying to the LORD. In Laos, entire families are banned from their communities if just one converts to Christ.
Persecution for being a follower of Jesus is not unusual – it is the norm. Jesus said it would be --- Matthew 10:22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. The Church in America has yet to face this type of persecution. Don’t hear what I am not saying, persecution exists in America, just not on such a drastic and overwhelming basis. It will come, the follower of Jesus Christ will face “great persecution” – and just like every truly born-again-blood-bought-believer before them, they will continue to preach the word. That is the sign of a genuine believer. Jesus said it Mathew 10:22 (and many other places as well), Luke says in Acts 7 & 8 – you will find that theme throughout the New Testament. One of the greatest verse in all the Bible gives every Born-again-blood-bought-beliver great hope: John 16:32-33 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (33) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Let me remind you friends --- #JAJ